NOK Corporation (Head Office: Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Group Chief Executive Officer: Masao Tsuru; hereinafter referred to as "NOK") will co-host the international symposium "Sustainable Sealing Materials for Hydrogen" on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, together with the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (*1, hereinafter referred to as "BAM"), Kyushu University, and the Freudenberg Group (Germany).

The symposium will share the findings of a joint research project involving the above four institutions: "Sustainable and Hydrogen-Compatible Sealing Materials for Safe H₂ Supply Networks" (abbreviated as SusSeal4H2). As one of the co-organizers, NOK will present on the technical development of sustainable sealing materials essential to realizing a hydrogen society, as well as sustainability initiatives within Japan's rubber industry.

Attendance is free of charge, and the symposium can be attended either in person at BAM's Berlin venue or online.

Event Details

-Name: Sustainable Sealing Materials for Hydrogen
-Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 9:00-17:00 (local time)
-Format: Hybrid (BAM Berlin venue and online)
-Organizers: BAM, Kyushu University, Freudenberg Group, NOK
-Who Should Attend: Those with an interest in sealing materials, sustainability, and hydrogen technology
-Registration URL: https://www.bam-akademie.de/kursangebot/kurs/nachhaltige-dichtungsmaterialien-fuer-wasserstoff-73.html?lang=en
-Registration Deadline: May 4, 2026 (Monday) for in-person attendance; May 12, 2026 (Tuesday) for online attendance
-Admission: Free
-Event language: English

The SusSeal4H2 Joint Project and Goals of the Symposium

The NOK Group, guided by its commitment to "Essential Core Manufacturing — The manufacture of pivotal products that shape society," has identified the development of technologies for a hydrogen society as a priority. As hydrogen gains attention as a next-generation energy source in the drive toward carbon neutrality by 2050, sealing technologies capable of withstanding cryogenic temperatures and high-pressure environments are increasingly in demand. This project has pursued global collaboration among industry, academia and government to develop next-generation sealing materials that perform under harsh conditions while reducing environmental impact. Through this symposium, NOK aims to share the latest research findings, deepen dialogue with experts from Japan and abroad, and contribute to the safety and sustainability of hydrogen infrastructure.

1 The German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) is a federal research institution under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, dedicated to advancing safety and reliability in materials science and chemical engineering.